Employing your spouse

When considering the overall tax position of your family, it is worth considering if you can justify employing your spouse in your business.

This is a means of transferring inc unless the business is a self employment, where the "family member" exemption may apply. ome from you to your spouse. It is likely to show a tax saving if your spouse has unused personal allowances or pays tax at a lower rate than you do.

In order to justify a salary, the following points must be borne in mind:

The level of salary must be commercially justifiable and wholly and exclusively incurred in the course of the trade

The salary must actually be paid to your spouse (and therefore affordable for you)

The national minimum or living wage regulations are likely to apply unless the business is a self employment, where the "family member" exemption may apply

If the salary is sufficient (over £10,000 per annum) there may also be an obligation to implement a workplace pension scheme and enrol them in it.

It is important to apply the same principles when paying a spouse as you would when employing someone not connected to you.

As well as a salary, you may be able to pay premiums for a special pension arrangement for your spouse. These should not be taxable on your spouse and should save you tax as a business expense.

The total salary package is the amount which is considered when deciding whether the payments are justified under the wholly and exclusively rule.

All the above considerations apply equally to an unmarried partner or indeed to any other individual.

Administering a salary

If your spouse has no other employment, the starter form (previously P46) should be signed with the Statement B ("This is my only or main job") ticked. You may then pay up to the Lower Earnings Limit (£116 for 2018/19) without any further formality, provided that you have no other employees.

If you already have a PAYE scheme for other employees, or don't mind setting up a scheme for your spouse, you should consider the following points:

A salary between £116 and £162 per week will protect an entitlement to basic state pension and other contributory benefits without incurring any actual national insurance liability

A salary between £162 and £892 per week is subject to employees' national insurance at 12% and between £162 and £892 employers' national insurance at 13.8%, although you may be able to claim Employment Allowance which reduces the employer national insurance bill by up to £3,000 a year

The income tax position depends on your spouse's personal circumstances

The amount of salary exceeding £892 a week is subject to employees' national insurance at 2% and employers' national insurance at 13.8%, without upper limit